Multiple purpose support device for portable outdoor grilling and cooking

ABSTRACT

A self supporting alignment and stability system for portable outdoor grilling and cooking that serves as a support structure for attaching multiple purpose grilling attachments and accessories that also can be attached to any grill, fire ring or other portable grills. The basic structure includes a main post ground stand, ground auger, plus multiple adjustable attachments with leveling arms. Accessories include a grill surface, charcoal pan, frying pan, cutting board, condiment rack and carrying case. The support structure with needed grilling accessories can be used as a stand alone portable grill or attached to any existing grill, fire ring or applicable portable grill.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a multiple purpose support device for portable outdoor grilling and cooking that is easily transported, assembled, fully adjustable and usable on various outdoor terrain. It can be used with a variety of grilling and cooking systems in conjunction with attachments and accessories as needed.

2. Description of Prior Art

The increased popularity of outdoor grilling and cooking has led to a variety of grilling and cooking assembles to serve that need. These assemblies cover a wide range of portable grills with many types of attachments and accessories for holding and preparing the food over the heat source. These assemblies also use a variety of heating sources such as wood, charcoal or propane gas. Many of these assembles are bulky, heavy and difficult to use. Leveling of the grill and adjusting the distance between the heat source and grill is lacking or difficult. The space requirement between the grill and heat source varies according to the type of heat source and food being grilled or cooked. The assemblies main support stake must be driven in the ground or have a support stand. They are not stand alone units that can also be used with fire rings or other grilling units.

While many of the known portable outdoor grilling and cooking assemblies work as intended, there is a need for a multiple purpose outdoor grilling and cooking system that serves a variety of needs for all events like tailgate parties, back yards, parks, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, etc. The user can pick and choose from a basic unit the amount of grilling and accessory attachments desired or needed according to their activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved portable outdoor grilling and cooking device that maintains some advantages of the prior art with improvements that enhance the various options for the grilling and cooking activities being served.

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) To provide a multiple purpose alignment and stability system for portable outdoor grilling and cooking with optional grilling and accessory attachments.

(b) To provide an adjustable grilling or cooking attachment to the main post with adjustable arms that can be adjusted on two planes for a level grilling or cooking surface. The attachment can be adjusted to any desired height on the main post plus an adjustment of the upper arm tube that permits extending the accessory item being used to the desired location.

(c) To provide an adjustable attachment to the main post for a cutting board, frying pan or other accessories that allows adjustments as needed according to the accessory being used.

(d) To provide an adjustable attachment to the main post for other needed items such as a charcoal pan, propane heat source or other accessories that allows adjustments as needed.

(e) To provide a ground auger attachment that attaches to the main post with a turn handle to turn the auger into the ground which stabilizes the main post.

(f) To provide an alternate main post ground stand for surfaces that are not conducive to the augers use. These surfaces include blacktop, concrete, gravel, rocky or frozen ground, etc. The ground stand permits using the grilling and cooking assembly anywhere as needed including tailgating in a parking lot or for set up on a patio or deck.

(g) To provide a condiment rack that mounts on the main post top.

(h) To provide a cooking pan and cover that also can serve as a charcoal holder for an alternate source of heat for grilling and cooking.

(i) To provide a propane heating unit that can serve as an alternate source of heat for grilling and cooking

(j) To provide an adjustable chain and hook arrangement to attach the charcoal pan or propane heat source to the grill that allows variable space adjustment between the heat source and accessory being used.

(k) To provide a new and improved portable grilling and cooking device with attachments and accessories that can be easily assembled and disassembled into a carrying case or bag.

(l) To provide a grilling and cooking device that can be attached to a fire ring, or operate as a stand alone unit beside the fire ring using the fire ring as the heat source.

(m) To provide a grilling and cooking device that can be attached to a standard grill, or operate as a stand alone unit beside the standard grill using the standard grill as the heat source. Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawing and ensuing description.

DRAWING FIGURES

In Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the multiple purpose support device for portable outdoor grilling and cooking embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the multiple purpose support device with the fry pan being used as a cover for the charcoal pan, the charcoal pan being attached to the grill surface and the ground stand replacing the ground auger.

FIG. 3 is side view of the charcoal pan attached to the grill surface with the charcoal pan chains.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a charcoal or gas grill being attached to the main post and standard charcoal or propane grill.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the propane burner attached to the grill surface with the propane burner chains.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the main post being attached to a fire ring

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the ground stand.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the ground auger

FIG. 9 is a side view of the adjustable attachment with leveling arms

FIG. 10. Is a side view of the adjustable attachment with leveling arms with a hole that accepts the auger pin.

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 TO 15

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a typical embodiment of the multiple purpose support grilling device 10 of the present invention when used for outside portable grilling or cooking over an open fire 90, as a heat source. The grill assembly 10 comprises a main post 12 with a upper receiver hole 23 and a lower receiver hole 23. The top two adjustable attachments 15 and the bottom adjustable attachment 13 fit over the main post 12. The top two adjustable attachments 15 and the bottom adjustable attachment 13 have leveling arms 22, main adjustable sleeve 16, adjustment knobs 11 for vertical height adjustment, adjustable arm swivels 34, lower adjustable arm sleeve 54, lower adjustable arm tube 52, upper adjustable arm tube 50, adjustable knob 25 for levelness of upper arm tube 50 and levelness of any accessory used, main adjustable knob 20 for in and out horizontal adjustment side to side or any accessory used, the bottom adjustable attachment 13 has a hole 23 for auger pin 24 to drive auger assembly 17 using leveling arm 22 and upper adjustable tube 50 for a turning handle on the auger assembly 17. The auger assembly 17 has a hole 23 to mate the main post hole 23, main post auger pin 26, lower post main sleeve 28, ground post auger plate 30, ground post auger 14 and a ground auger screw 32.

The condiment rack 42 fits over the main post 12 top. The cutting board table 40 fastens to the table surface mount plate 58, the table mount tube 48 fastens to the table surface mount plate 58, the table mount tube 48 slides into the upper adjustment tube 50 and is adjusted with the adjustment knob 20 for in and out movement and levelness. The fry pan 36 is fastened to the fry pan mount tube 46, the fry pan mount tube 46 slides into the middle adjustment tube 50 and is adjusted with the adjustment knob 20 for in and out movement and levelness. The grill surface 38 is fastened to the grill surface mount plate 56, the grill surface mount plate 56 is fastened to the adjustable tube 44, the grill surface mount tube 44 slides into the lower adjustment tube 50 and is adjusted with the adjustment knob 20 for in and out movement and levelness.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the multiple purpose support grilling device 10 and a pictorial view of the ground stand 19 used for hard surfaces, the fry pan 36 is turned upside down and used as a cover for the charcoal pan 60. and the charcoal pan is attached to the grill surface 38. with the charcoal pan chains 62. The ground stand 19 comprises a ground stand support 84, lower main post sleeve 28, ground stand sleeve 82 with hole 23 to accept main post 12 with bottom hole 23, ground stand pin 26 for holes 23, main leg tubes 78, adjustable tubes 80, and wing nuts 77 for length adjustment of the adjustable tubes 80.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the surface grill with charcoal pan attached 27. The charcoal pan 60 is attached to the grill surface 38 by adjustable chains 62, the grill surface 38 is fastened to the grill surface mount plate 56 and the grill surface mount plate 56 is fastened to the grill surface mount tube 44.

FIG. 4 shows a pictorial view of the attachment for a charcoal or propane burner grill 31 that can be attached to the main post 12 with adjustment knobs 20 and locking nuts 35 that fasten the upper brace support 88 and the lower brace support 66, to the main post 12. The upper brace support 88 has two holes 69 for attaching to the charcoal or propane burner grill. The lower brace mount has two holes 69 for attaching to the charcoal or propane burner grill. The main post 12 is attached to the ground plate stand 64.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the grill surface with the propane burner attached 29. The propane burner 72 is attached to the grill surface 38 with adjustable chains 62, the gas line 70 is attached to the propane burner 72 and the grill surface 38 is attached to the grill surface mount plate 56, and the grill surface mount plate is attached to the grill surface mount tube 44.

FIG. 6 shows a pictorial view of the grill attached to a fire ring 33 and the main post 12 is fastened to the fire ring 76 with bolts 86.

FIG. 7 shows a pictorial view of the ground stand 19, main post sleeve 82, ground stand support 84, main leg tubes 78, adjustable tubes 78 and wing nuts 77.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the ground auger 17. the hole for auger and main post 23, ground post auger plate 30, ground post auger 14 and ground auger screw 32.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the adjustable attachment 15, leveling arms 22, adjustment knob 11 for vertical adjustment, adjustment knob 25 for level adjustment, adjustment knob 20 for in and out length adjustment.

FIG. 10 shows is another side view of the adjustable attachment 13, showing how the adjustable attachment 13 and main post 12 are used to drive the ground auger 17 with the upper hole 23 and auger pin 24.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the example given. 

1. A multiple purpose support device for portable outdoor grilling and cooking comprising the improved processes of: providing a self supporting alignment and stability system for outdoor grilling and cooking that serves as a support structure for attaching multiple purpose grilling and cooking attachments and accessories that also can be attached to any grill, fire ring or other portable grill; wherein the grilling support device structure includes a main post that attaches to a ground stand or ground auger, and wherein one or more adjustable attachments are attached to the ground post, and wherein accessories are attached to the adjustable attachments.
 2. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device provides means for stability and alignment for portable outdoor grilling and cooking with optional grilling and accessory attachments.
 3. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device main post is attached to a ground stand.
 4. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device main post is attached to a ground auger with drive hole and pin, with the adjustable attachment leveling arm and upper adjustable arm serving as a drive means for the auger.
 5. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device main post is attached to a ground stand, where ground surfaces are not conducive to auger usage.
 6. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device main post provides means for accepting multiple adjustable attachments with leveling arms for attaching various grilling and cooking accessories,
 7. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device main post provides means for a condiment rack that mounts on the main post top.
 8. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachment with leveling arms has three adjustable knobs that provide means for vertical means of movement on the main post, a leveling means for all accessories, a means for horizontal movement of accessories, and a handle means for movement of the adjustable attachment.
 9. The process in claim 8, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachment provides means for a grill surface, cutting board, frying pan or other accessories with means for adjustments as needed according to the accessory being used.
 10. The process in claim 8, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachment provides means for a charcoal pan, propane heat source or other accessories that provides means for adjustments as needed.
 11. The process in claim 8, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachment provides means for a cooking pan and cover that can also serve as a charcoal holder for an alternate source of heat for grilling and cooking with means for adjustments as needed.
 12. The process in claim 8, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachment provides means for a propane heating unit that can serve as an alternate source of heat for grilling and cooking with means for adjustments as needed.
 13. The process in claim 8, wherein the said multiple purpose support device adjustable attachments provide means for an adjustable chain and hook arrangement that attaches to the charcoal pan or propane heat source which provides means for variable space adjustment between the heat source and accessory being used.
 14. The process in claim 1, wherein the said multiple purpose support device provides means for the grilling and cooking apparatus to be attached to a fire ring or standard grill or operate as a stand alone unit beside the fire ring or standard grill, using the fire ring or standard grill as the heat source.
 15. The process in claim 1, wherein said multiple purpose support device provides means for a new and improved grilling and cooking apparatus with attachments and accessories that can be easily assembled and disassembled into a carrying case or bag. 